Best Practice Ever

Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky will lock away Thursday morning practice against the Raiders for later in the season. It might have been the most dominate defensive play ever witnessed in a joint practice. The 49ers defense picked off four Raiders’ passes including two in a row, which set off a raucous string of celebrations by team’s hyped-up secondary.

Nate Clements intercepted two passes in team drills and another in 9 on 7. Dre Bly added another and rookie pass rusher Diyral Briggs picked off a fourth.

An inspired Nate Clements intercepted three passes against the Raiders.

Manusky said he would use the memory of the interceptions to use later in the season, when his defense is struggling. “Remember how we did it (against) Oakland,” Manusky said he would say.

The 49ers were so loud, the team’s offense, practicing on the other side of the field, often craned their necks to see what was happening. Forty-five minutes after the practice, the defensive backs were still beaming about their exploits.

“I told Shaun (Hill) why don’t you feed us like that in practice?” Bly raved. “That buffet was good.”

Clements, a nine-year veteran, said it was the best practice he had ever been a part of.

“Everybody was on the same page,” Clements said. “It was just back-to-back-to-back. It was just dominant from start to finish.”

Bly wondered why someone on the Raiders didn’t stand up and say, “Enough,” but no one stepped forward.

Clements said fellow cornerback Shawntae Spencer got him started by responding to a Raiders’ receiver trash talk. “I was on the field and it just rubbed off on me. It got contagious,” Clements said.

Bly said that none of the defensive backs didn’t want to let down.

Raiders coach Tom Cable blamed himself for the interceptions. Cable told his quarterbacks to get the ball out and to take chances.

“I was telling them to just start ripping it, just trying to get him to hurry, cut it loose,” Cable said.

The display happened right in front of Raiders owner Al Davis, who stewed in a golf cart during the entire proceeding.

It makes you wonder about the 49ers defense after their three-interception performance against Denver and then their spectacular display against the Raiders. Is this team ready to take another step to become an elite defense? The team has made marked improvement over the past three season, but they haven’t caused turnovers. With another year in the Manusky defense and the additions of safety Dashon Goldson and Bly, maybe the 49ers can add more of a dynamic flair to their unit.

NINERS O SPUTTERS: While Shaun Hill and Alex Smith didn’t throw any picks in team drills, they threw plenty of passes away and could only complete short passes. They were often flushed from the pocket.

Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye blamed it on the Raiders’ pressure and their bump-and-run defense.

RAYE RAVES: Jimmy Raye was asked about Glen Coffee and here’s what he said: “He has really been exceptional as a rookie running back. He’s way ahead of the curve as far as a rookie back in pass protection, which is really unusual.”

Coffee’s ability to pass protect could get him into the lineup in a hurry. “You lose pass protection with a rookie running back and then you lose your quarterback,” Raye said. From the sound of it, Raye would feel comfortable with Coffee protecting his prized quarterbacks.

Raye also described him as a rugged running back. Coffee has caught a fair number passes, but Raye doesn’t want to feature him as a receiver, believing he’s a better runner.

NO FIGHT: In yesterday’s post, I reported that running back Frank Gore was fighting with Raiders. Untrue as it turns out. Gore was completely pancaking Oakland linebackers in a pass protecting drill and doing with such verve, running backs coach Tom Rathman pulled him. The 49ers might want to get him a few snaps against the Raiders on Saturday night, just to siphon off some of his verve.